पक्षी (pakshii)

noun A single-sense word meaning 'bird', used mainly in slightly formal, written, or nature/school-book contexts rather than everyday chit-chat.
Sense 1 : bird
noun, masculine
Synonyms: चिड़िया (chidiyaa, everyday word for smaller birds), परिंदा (parindaa)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll meet पक्षी (pakshii) most in school lessons, wildlife shows, and phrases like प्रवासी पक्षी (pravaasii pakshii, 'migratory birds') in the news every winter when Delhi's wetlands fill up with visitors from Siberia. In daily conversation at home or in the market, though, people almost always say चिड़िया (chidiyaa) instead -- so think of पक्षी (pakshii) as the 'formal register' member of this pair.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for पक्षी (pakshii) in casual speech, but everyday Hindi favors चिड़िया (chidiyaa) when pointing at a sparrow or pigeon on the street; पक्षी (pakshii) sounds more like a textbook, nature-documentary, or newspaper word. 2) पक्षी (pakshii) is grammatically masculine even when referring to a female bird -- gender here tracks the word, not the bird's actual sex.
Sample Sentences:
पक्षी आकाश में उड़ते हैं। Birds fly in the sky.
(pakshii aakaash men udte hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सर्दियों में साइबेरिया से प्रवासी पक्षी दिल्ली की झीलों में आते हैं। In winter, migratory birds come to Delhi's lakes from Siberia.
(sardiyon men saaiberiyaa se pravaasii pakshii dillii kii jhiilon men aate hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस जंगल में सैकड़ों प्रजातियों के पक्षी पाए जाते हैं। Hundreds of species of birds are found in this forest.
(is jangal men saikdon prajaatiyon ke pakshii paae jaate hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
वैज्ञानिक पक्षियों के प्रवास पर शोध कर रहे हैं। Scientists are researching the migration of birds.
(vaigyaanik pakshiyon ke pravaas par shodh kar rahe hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पेड़ पर एक पक्षी बैठा है। A bird is sitting on the tree.
(ped par ek pakshii baithaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कल शाम को हमने बगीचे में कई पक्षी देखे। Yesterday evening we saw many birds in the garden.
(kal shaam ko hamne bagiiche men kaii pakshii dekhe।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह अभ्यारण्य दुर्लभ पक्षियों के संरक्षण के लिए बनाया गया था। This sanctuary was built for the conservation of rare birds.
(yah abhyaarany durlabh pakshiyon ke sanrakshan ke lie banaayaa gayaa thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
अगर जंगल कटते रहे, तो कई पक्षी विलुप्त हो जाएंगे। If forests keep getting cut down, many birds will become extinct.
(agar jangal katte rahe, to kaii pakshii vilupt ho jaaenge।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
काश हम भी पक्षियों की तरह उड़ पाते। If only we too could fly like birds.
(kaash ham bhii pakshiyon kii tarah ud paate।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अगर वन क्षेत्र सुरक्षित होता, तो अधिक पक्षी यहाँ बसते। If the forest area were protected, more birds would settle here.
(agar van kshetr surakshit hotaa, to adhik pakshii yahaan baste।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
कृपया पक्षियों के लिए पानी का यह कटोरा छत पर रख दें। Please keep this bowl of water for the birds on the roof.
(kripyaa pakshiyon ke lie paanii kaa yah katoraa chhat par rakh den।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): पक्षी (pakshii)
(sg.m.oblique): पक्षी (pakshii)
(pl.m.direct): पक्षी (pakshii)
(pl.m.oblique): पक्षीयों (pakshiiyon)